Brazil’s Ex-Leader Bolsonaro Faces Coup Charges Amid Fierce Debate

The Prosecutor General’s Office PRG charged former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on February 18, 2025, with plotting a coup attempt.

Prosecutors accuse him of leading efforts to block Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s 2022 election win, risking 43 years in prison. An 884-page Federal Police report drives this historic case.

Bolsonaro allegedly drafted a “coup draft” to nullify the election, pushing it in December 2022 meetings, though military chiefs resisted. The plot triggered the January 8, 2023, Brasília riots, backed by aide Mauro Cid’s plea bargain and messages.

Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet targets Bolsonaro and 33 allies. Charges include attempted coup (4-12 years), democratic abolition (4-8 years), and criminal organization (3-8 years), spanning six units like disinformation.

After losing by 1.8% in 2022, Bolsonaro’s fraud claims since 2019 fueled unrest, despite his 2030 ban. A February 2025 poll shows 32% still back him. Probes into vaccine fraud and a $3 million Saudi jewelry scandal add pressure as the Supreme Court weighs a trial.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes leads scrutiny, possibly by mid-2025, testing Brazil’s post-1964-1985 democracy. A 2021 law highlights fears of authoritarian relapse.

Critics on X slam the case. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro posts “no proof,” alleging a Lula-orchestrated witch hunt. Users call it “judicial persecution” by Moraes, noting no signed decree exists. Bolsonaro’s team echoes claims of political targeting.

The world watches Brazil’s response. The Prosecutor General’s Office says it seeks accountability, but critics see a power grab, deepening divides and shaping trust.

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